Electronic device, control method of electronic device, and program

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present invention include a device including processing circuitry that detects a first user action according to a first signal received from a first sensor while operating in a first mode, the first user action being gripping and lifting up of the device, changes an operation mode from the first mode to a second mode based on the first user action, detects a second user action according to a second signal received from a second sensor while operating the second mode, the second user action being a touch operation, performs an operation based on the second user action, and changes the operation mode from the second mode to a third mode after a predetermined period of time elapses, the second mode consuming more power than the first mode, and the third mode consuming more power than the first mode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED-APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/481,178, filed Apr. 6, 2017, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/258,511, filed Sep.7, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,993,837, issued on Apr. 3, 2018), which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/125,140, filedDec. 10, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,459,686, issued on Oct. 4, 2016),which is a National Stage of PCT/JP2012/003220, filed May 17, 2012, andclaims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application JP2011-135462, filed Jun. 17, 2011, the entire content of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to, among other things, an electronicdevice, a control method of the electronic device, and a program.

BACKGROUND ART

An electronic device may use, for example, a button or a keyboard as anapparatus for acquiring a user's operation input. Recently, a method foracquiring a user's operation using various types of sensors has beendeveloped. For example, International Publication No. 2009-008411discloses technology for acquiring a user's three dimensional motion asa user's operation input using an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor.

When the electronic device acquires the user's operation using such asensor, power consumption is large as compared with the case of using abutton, a keyboard and the like. This is because a sensor such as a gyrosensor consumes a large amount of power as compared with the button orthe keyboard. Therefore, International Publication No. 2009-008411 hasdisclosed technology for further reducing power consumption byrestricting the supply of power to the gyro sensor with high powerconsumption when there is no input from the acceleration sensor.

SUMMARY Technical Problem

However, in recent years, since the type and purpose of a sensor usedfor the operation input of an electronic device have been diversified, areduction effect of power consumption may not be sufficiently achievedby the technology disclosed in International Publication No.2009-008411.

According to the present disclosure, there are provided a novel andmodified electronic device, a control method of the electronic device,and a program, capable of further reducing the consumption of power foracquiring an operation.

Solution to Problem

Aspects of the present invention include a device comprising a memorystoring instructions and a processing circuit executing the instructionsto detect a first user action. The instructions also may includeinstructions to establish a first user action state based on thedetected first user action, designate a first mode based on the firstuser action state, determine if a second user action, consistent with afirst detection condition associated with the first mode, has takenplace, when the second user action has taken place, establish a seconduser action state based on the second user action, and designate asecond mode based on the second user action state, the second modeconsuming more power than the first mode.

Aspects of the present invention include a method comprising detecting afirst user action. The method also may include establishing a first useraction state based on the detected first user action, designating afirst mode based on the first user action state, determining if a seconduser action, consistent with a first detection condition associated withthe first mode, has taken place, when the second user action has takenplace, establishing a second user action state based on the second useraction, and designating a second mode based on the second user actionstate, the second mode consuming more power than the first mode.

Aspects of the present invention include a tangibly embodiednon-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted by a processor, perform a method comprising detecting a firstuser action. The method may also include establishing a first useraction state based on the detected first user action, designating afirst mode based on the first user action state, determining if a seconduser action, consistent with a first detection condition associated withthe first mode, has taken place, when the second user action has takenplace, establishing a second user action state based on the second useraction, and designating a second mode based on the second user actionstate, the second mode consuming more power than the first mode.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure as described above, it is possibleto reduce the consumption of power for acquiring an operation in anelectronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external appearance of an electronicdevice according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of theelectronic device according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the first embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a modification of thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining sub-modes of a power saving mode setin a touch sensor in a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a detection mode set inthe touch sensor in the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device according to athird embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) illustrate diagrams for explaining a detectionmode set in a touch sensor in a fourth embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the fourthembodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that, in thisspecification and drawings, structural elements that have substantiallythe same function and structure are denoted with the same referencenumerals, and repeated explanation of these structural elements isomitted.

Furthermore, the following description will be given in the followingorder.

1. First embodiment (example in which sampling rate is changed in powersaving mode)

1-1. Apparatus configuration

1-2. Process flow

2. Second embodiment (example in which sub-modes are set in power savingmode)

3. Third embodiment (example in which electric field sensor is used)[0029]

4. Fourth embodiment (example in which the number of detection points ischanged in power saving mode)

5. Modifications

6. Supplement

1. First Embodiment

1-1. Apparatus Configuration

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of a remotecontroller 100 (or processing circuit) which is an electronic deviceaccording to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The remotecontroller 100, for example, is a device for transmitting information ona user's operation input to an external device such as a television or arecorder, and is gripped and used by a user. Although the device 100 isreferred to as a “remote controller,” it is to be understood that it isnot necessary for device 100 to control another device remotely. Rather,remote controller 100 may control another device remotely and may alsoor alternatively perform other functions (e.g., communicating with otherdevices, providing an interactive display to the user, etc.).

The remote controller 100 is provided with a housing 101 gripped by auser. The illustrated housing 101 has an oval plate shape. However, theshape of the housing 101 is not limited thereto. For example, thehousing 101 may have any suitable shape for gripping by a user. A touchpanel 110 may be provided on the surface of the housing 101, and/or onanother part of the controller 100, and a button 120, and is providedtherein with circuit parts for realizing a functional configurationwhich will be described later.

The touch panel 110 may include a display 111 and a touch sensor 113.The display 111 may display an image such as a GUI (Graphical UserInterface) for operating the remote controller 100. A touch sensor 113detects a user's contact to a specific part of the display 111.Information on the user's contact detected by the touch sensor 113 maybe acquired as an operation input and is transmitted from the remotecontroller 100 to an external device to be operated.

The button 120 may acquire pressure by a user as an operation input. Inthe following description, an operation input using the touch panel 110will be mainly described. However, the remote controller 100 may alsohave other operation input devices such as the button 120. Sincewell-known technology is used for operation input using other operationinput devices, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

So far, the external appearance of the remote controller 100 has beendescribed. As described above, the remote controller 100 may use thetouch sensor 113 in order to acquire an operation input. The touchsensor 113 is a sensor with high power consumption as compared with asensor such as an acceleration sensor. Since the remote controller 100is driven by a dry cell in many cases, management of the powerconsumption of the touch sensor 113 is an important factor in theimprovement of usability through the extension of battery lifespan.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration ofthe remote controller 100 which is the electronic device according tothe first embodiment of the present disclosure. The remote controller100 which is the electronic device includes an acceleration sensor 130,the touch sensor 113, a processor 140, a memory 150, and a communicationunit 160 as the functional configuration.

The acceleration sensor 130 includes an acceleration sensor such as apiezo resistance-type sensor, a piezoelectric-type sensor, or acapacitance-type sensor. The acceleration sensor 130 may include atriaxial acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration along three axesperpendicular to one another, a biaxial acceleration sensor fordetecting acceleration along two axes perpendicular to one another, or auniaxial acceleration sensor. In the present embodiment, theacceleration sensor 130 detects the grip state of the housing 101 by auser according to a change in acceleration. Here, the accelerationsensor 130 is an example of a first detection unit which generates stateinformation, which may indicate that the housing 101 provided with thetouch panel 110 (an operation unit) has been gripped, according to thedetection of the grip state. As long as the detection is possible, asensor type or the number of axes is not important. In addition, theacceleration sensor 130 may be used for the detection of the grip of thehousing 101. The acceleration sensor 130 may also have other purposes,for example, may have the purpose of detecting the slope of the remotecontroller 100. The acceleration sensor 130 may have a plurality ofpower saving modes, and may also be used in a power saving mode.

The processor 140 (or, alternatively, the “controller” or “processingcircuit”) may operate according to a program stored in the memory 150,and controls each element of the remote controller 100. The processor140 performs functions of a state information acquisition unit 141, anoperation information acquisition unit 143, and a switching signalgeneration unit 145. The state information acquisition unit 141 acquiresstate information which is generated according to the detection of theacceleration sensor 130. The operation information acquisition unit 143acquires operation information based on a contact, which is generatedaccording to the detection of the touch sensor 113 and performed withrespect to the touch panel 110. The switching signal generation unit 145generates a switching signal for driving the touch sensor 113 byswitching the mode of the touch sensor 113 according to the stateinformation and the operation information. In addition, the processes ofthe state information acquisition unit 141, the operation informationacquisition unit 143, and the switching signal generation unit 145 willbe described in detail below.

The memory 150 may store data used in the remote controller 100. Thememory 150, for example, stores a program for operating the processor140. Information stored in the memory 150 may also include informationon a plurality of detection modes set in the touch sensor 113 by theswitching signal generation unit 145 as will be described later.

The communication unit 160 acquires the operation information generatedaccording to the detection of the touch sensor 113 from the processor140, and may be realized as a communication apparatus for transmittingthe information to an external apparatus as an operation input. Thecommunication unit 160, for example, may communicate with the externalapparatus using infrared rays, or may also communicate with the externalapparatus through radio communication using RF4CE (Radio Frequency forConsumer Electronics) standard or Bluetooth (a registered trademark).

The touch sensor 113 is a touch sensor such as a capacitance-type touchsensor or a resistive film-type touch sensor. The touch sensor 113 mayscan an area of the touch panel 110 at a sampling rate and may detect auser's contact. Here, the touch sensor 113 is an example of a seconddetection unit which generates operation information based on a contactoperation (first operation), which is performed with respect to thetouch panel (the operation unit), according to the detection of thecontact operation. The power consumption of the touch sensor 113 is maybe high as compared with the acceleration sensor 130. However, it ispossible to suppress the power consumption by changing the sampling rateor a number of detection points (e.g., locations where the touch sensor113 is sensitive to and may detect a touch). The touch sensor 113provides the processor 140 with information on the user's contact, andthe processor 140 provides the communication unit 160 with theinformation.

Hereinafter, a detection mode of the touch sensor 113 will be described.In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the detectionmode of the touch sensor 113 is switched between first to thirddetection modes by the function of the switching signal generation unit145.

The first detection mode is a sleep mode in which the sampling rate ofthe touch sensor 113 is set to a minimum value. The sampling rate mayalso be set to zero. In this mode, the power consumption of the touchsensor 113 is minimal among the three modes. In addition, the powerconsumption of the acceleration sensor 130 is lower than the powerconsumption of the touch sensor 113 driven in the sleep mode. Meanwhile,since the detection accuracy of the touch sensor 113 is the lowest, nouser's contact is actually detected. The sleep mode may also be an OFFmode in which no power is supplied to the touch sensor, or a standbymode in which power is slightly supplied for quick transition to othermodes, and the like.

The second detection mode is a power saving mode in which the samplingrate of the touch sensor 113 is set to a value smaller than a normalvalue. In this mode, the power consumption of the touch sensor 113 isrelatively low. Meanwhile, the detection accuracy of the touch sensor113 is relatively low, and a user's contact itself is detected but maynot be correctly detected according to the type of contact operation.The detection accuracy of the detection condition of the power savingmode is higher than that of the detection condition of the sleep mode.The phrase “detection condition,” as used herein, may refer to anynumber of conditions, protocols and methods for detecting a user action.A user action may refer to any action performed by a user that may bedetected by remote controller 100, a portion of remote controller 100, adevice in communication with remote controller 100 or any other devicedescribed herein. Examples of user actions include grasp motions, touchor contact motions and/or pointing, drag operations, point operations,tap operations, flick operations, swipe operations, clicking, depressingof buttons, or other such user actions discussed herein or known in theart. “Detection conditions” include, but are not limited to, detectingthe user action within a specified time frame or time period,frequencies of detection or sampling of user actions, density or numberof sensors and/or detection points, etc. “Detection mode,” as usedherein, may be synonymous with “detection condition.” in addition, a“detection mode” may employ one or more “detection conditions.” This isan example in which, in the second detection mode, the second detectionunit is driven in the second detection condition with a weak restrictionas compared with the first detection condition of the first detectionmode.

The third detection mode is an active mode in which the sampling rate ofthe touch sensor 113 is set to the normal value. In this mode, since thepower consumption of the touch sensor 113 is relatively high, long timecontinuity of this mode reduces the battery lifespan. When the detectionaccuracy of the touch sensor 113 is high, it may be possible tocorrectly detect various types of contact operations. The detectionaccuracy of the detection condition of the active mode may be higherthan that of the detection condition of the power saving mode. This isan example in which, in the third detection mode, the second detectionunit is driven in the third detection condition with a weak restrictionas compared with the second detection condition of the second detectionmode. As described above, in the present embodiment, the “detectioncondition with a weaker restriction” may correspond to a “detectioncondition with higher accuracy.”

Here, the value of the sampling rate for determining the detectionaccuracy in the power saving mode, which is the second detection mode,may also be changed according to, for example, a type of an applicationexecuted in an external device which receives information on a contactto the touch panel 110 from the remote controller 100. The applicationmay use the contact information as an operation input.

For example, when an application using an operation such as a tapoperation or a flick operation with a relatively short continuouscontact time on the touch panel 110 is executed in an external device,the switching signal generation unit 145 may set a relatively highsampling rate, at which such an operation is detectable, as the samplingrate of the power saving mode. Furthermore, for example, when anapplication using an operation such as a drag operation or a pointingoperation with a relatively long continuous contact time on the touchpanel 110 is executed in the external device, the switching signalgeneration unit 145 may set a relatively low sampling rate as thesampling rate of the power saving mode.

In addition, information on the application executed in the externaldevice, for example, can be acquired by allowing the communication unit160 to perform bidirectional communication including transmission to theexternal device and reception from the external device, and receivinginformation on an application transmitted from the external device,using the communication unit 160.

So far, the functional configuration of the remote controller 100 hasbeen described. In addition, the remote controller 100 may further havea functional configuration such as a functional configuration fordisplaying a GUI on the display 111 or a functional configuration foroperation input using the button 120 (not illustrated). For the abovefunctional configuration, since it is possible to use well-knowntechnology, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1-2. Process Flow

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of the remote controller100 which is the electronic device according to the first embodiment ofthe present disclosure. For example, when a user picks up the remotecontroller 100 placed on a table and the like, performs operation inputby making contact with the touch panel, and places the remote controlleron the table again, the following processes of steps S101, S103, S105,S107, S109, S111, S113, S115, S117, and S119 are performed in the remotecontroller 100.

First, the acceleration sensor 130 acquires a grip state of the housing101 (step S101). The acceleration sensor 130 may detect a change inacceleration when the housing 101 is gripped by a user and is lifted up.A detection result of the acceleration sensor 130 is provided to thestate information acquisition unit 141 of the processor 140.

Next, the state information acquisition unit 141 determines whether thehousing 101 has been gripped based on the detection result of theacceleration sensor 130 (step S103). When the change in accelerationdetected by the acceleration sensor 130 exceeds a threshold value, thestate information acquisition unit 141 determines that the housing 101has been gripped. Here, when it is determined that the housing 101 hasbeen gripped, the state information acquisition unit 141 may provide adetermination result to the switching signal generation unit 145, andthe procedure proceeds to step S105. Meanwhile, when it is notdetermined that the housing 101 has been gripped, the state informationacquisition unit 141 waits for a next determination result from theacceleration sensor 130, and the procedure proceeds to step S101.

When it is determined that the housing 101 has been gripped in stepS103, the switching signal generation unit 145 switches the mode of thetouch sensor 113 from the sleep mode to the power saving mode (stepS105). As described above, in the sleep mode, power consumption issmall, but a user's contact may not actually be detected. In the powersaving mode, the user's contact is minimally detected with relativelylow power consumption. Consequently, it is possible for the touch sensor113 to detect the user's contact through the switching of the detectionmode.

Next, the operation information acquisition unit 143 may determinewhether a user's contact to the touch panel 110 has been detected basedon the detection result of the touch sensor 113 (step S107). When it isdetermined that the contact to the touch panel 110 has been detected,the operation information acquisition unit 143 provides a determinationresult to the switching signal generation unit 145, and the procedureproceeds to step S109. In addition, a process when it is not determinedthat the contact to the touch panel 110 has been detected will bedescribed later.

When it is determined that the contact to the touch panel 110 has beendetected in step S107, the switching signal generation unit 145 switchesthe mode of the touch sensor 113 from the power saving mode to theactive mode (step S109). As described above, in the active mode, auser's contact may be sufficiently detected with relatively high powerconsumption. Consequently, it is possible for the touch sensor 113 tosufficiently detect various types of operations such as a drag or aflick due to the user's contact through the switching of the detectionmode.

Next, the operation information acquisition unit 143 may determinewhether the contact with the touch panel 110 has been released based onthe detection result of the touch sensor 113 (step S111). When it isdetermined that the contact has been released, the operation informationacquisition unit 143 further determines whether a time has elapsed afterthe contact was released (step S113). When it is determined that thetime has elapsed, the operation information acquisition unit 143provides the switching signal generation unit 145 with a determinationresult, and the switching signal generation unit 145 switches the modeof the touch sensor 113 from the active mode to the power saving mode(step S115).

Meanwhile, when it is not determined that the contact has been releasedin step S111 and it is not determined that the time has elapsed in stepS113, the procedure returns to step S111. This may include a case wherethe user's contact operation for the touch panel 110 is continued and acase where it is highly probable that the user's temporarily stoppedcontact operation has resumed. In such a case, the touch sensor 113 ismaintained in the active mode and continuously acquires the user'scontact operation.

After the mode of the touch sensor 113 is switched from the active modeto the power saving mode in step S115, the procedure returns to stepS107. If it is determined that the contact to the touch panel 110 hasbeen detected in step S107, the touch sensor 113 returns to the activemode in step S109.

Meanwhile, when it is not determined that the contact to the touch panel110 has been detected in step S107, the state information acquisitionunit 141 further determines whether the housing 101 has been set downbased on the detection result of the acceleration sensor 130 (stepS117). For example, when the change in acceleration detected by theacceleration sensor 130 becomes less than the threshold value, the stateinformation acquisition unit 141 determines that the housing 101 hasbeen set down. When the housing 101 has been gripped by a user, since acertain level of acceleration change is detected due to shaking, it ispossible to detect whether the housing 101 has been set down under theabove condition.

When it is determined that the housing 101 has been set down in stepS117, the switching signal generation unit 145 switches the mode of thetouch sensor 113 from the power saving mode to the sleep mode (stepS119). In this way, the remote controller 100 is placed on the table andthe like and returns to a state, in which the power consumption of thetouch sensor 113 is minimal, similarly to the start of this procedure.In addition, by considering the probability that the housing 101 isimmediately gripped again, step S119 may also be performed after thestandby of a time has passed from step S117. Meanwhile, when it is notdetermined that the housing 101 has been set down, the procedure returnsto step S107, and it is determined again whether a contact to the touchpanel 110 has been detected.

So far, the process flow of the remote controller 100 has beendescribed. Through the process flow, when the housing 101 has not beengripped by a user, the touch sensor 113 enters the sleep mode withlowest power consumption, so that it is possible to minimize powerconsumption in the remote controller 100. Furthermore, when the housing101 has been gripped, and a contact to the touch panel 110 has not beendetected, the touch sensor 113 enters the power saving mode withrelatively low power consumption, so that it is possible to detect acontact and suppress the power consumption in the remote controller 100.

Modification of Process Flow

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the process of a modification of theremote controller 100 which is the electronic device according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure. The present modification,for example, can be applied to a case where the communication unit 160of the remote controller 100 communicates with an external apparatususing Bluetooth (a registered trademark) and the like while maintaininga radio connection to the external apparatus. Hereinafter, in thepresent modification, step S205 performed instead of step S105 of theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 3, and step S219 performed instead of stepS119 will be described.

In step S205, the switching signal generation unit 145 switches the modeof the touch sensor 113 from the sleep mode to the power saving mode andactivates the communication unit 160. Then, the activated communicationunit 160 finds an external device (a communication partner) throughscanning and establishes a radio connection to the external device.Consequently, in the remote controller 100, it is possible for the touchsensor 113 to detect a user's contact and transmit information on adetected contact to the external device.

In step S219, the switching signal generation unit 145 switches the modeof the touch sensor 113 from the power saving mode to the sleep mode andsuspends the communication unit 160. The communication unit 160 releasesthe radio connection to the external device and stops an operation. Inaddition, by considering the probability that the housing 101 isimmediately gripped again, step S219 may also be performed after thestandby of a time has passed from step S117. In this case, after themode of the touch sensor 113 is switched to the sleep mode and thestandby of the time has further passed, the communication unit 160 mayalso be suspended. In general, a time for activating the communicationunit 160 is longer than a time for switching the mode of the touchsensor 113 from the sleep mode to the power saving mode. Consequently,with such a configuration, if a delay time until the communication unit160 is stopped after the housing 101 is set down is increased, it ispossible to prevent the occurrence of a waiting time required for theactivation of the communication unit 160 when the user has immediatelygripped the housing 101 again.

So far, the modification of the process flow of the remote controller100 has been described. In the present modification, when the housing101 is not gripped by a user, it is possible to minimize the powerconsumption of the communication unit 160 in addition to the touchsensor 113, and further reduce the power consumption in the remotecontroller 100. When the remote controller 100 receives push-typeinformation from an external device, it is preferable to maintain aradio connection with the external device even when there is notransmission from the remote controller 100, as with the process of FIG.3.

So far, the first embodiment of the present disclosure has beendescribed. In the first embodiment, in the state where the touch sensor113 is in the sleep mode, the grip of the housing 101 by a user isdetected using the acceleration sensor 130 with low power consumption ascompared with the touch sensor 113, so that it is possible tosignificantly reduce power consumption in the state where the housing101 is not gripped and a contact operation is not performed with respectto the touch panel 110. Furthermore, after the grip of the housing 101is detected, the mode of the touch sensor 113 is switched to the powersaving mode, so that it is possible to reduce power consumption in thestate where it is highly probable that the housing 101 is gripped and acontact operation is performed with respect to the touch panel 110, andto shorten a startup time when a contact operation has started. In orderto allow the touch sensor 113 in the sleep mode or the power saving modeto enter the active mode, since a user does not need to separatelyoperate a button and a mode is switched during a normal operation inwhich the user grips the housing 101 and makes contact with the touchpanel 110, it is possible to achieve a high operational feeling withoutallowing the user to recognize the mode switching.

2. Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.In the second embodiment, a plurality of sub-modes are set in the powersaving mode of the touch sensor 113, and are changed according to thepassage of time in the state where the power saving mode has been set inthe touch sensor 113. In addition, except for an apparatus configurationand a state where the power saving mode has been set in the touch sensor113, since processes before the mode of the touch sensor 113 is switchedto the power saving mode from other modes and after the mode of thetouch sensor 113 is switched to the other modes from the power savingmode can be performed in the same manner as the first embodiment,detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining sub-modes of the power saving modeset in the touch sensor 113 in the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates power saving modes 1 to 3, which aresub-modes of the power saving mode, in comparison with the active mode.Hereinafter, respective modes will be described.

As described above, the active mode indicates a mode in which thesampling rate of the touch sensor 113 is set to a normal value, and isset when a user's contact operation is performed with respect to thetouch panel 110. The sampling rate of the active mode may be higher thanthose of the sub-modes of the power saving mode.

Sampling rates of the power saving modes 1 to 3 may be different fromone another. That is, the power saving modes 1 to 3 have differentlevels of power consumption and detection accuracy, respectively. Inother words, the power saving modes 1 to 3 correspond to an example ofsub-modes having different levels of power consumption and detectionconditions, respectively. The sampling rates of these modes are lowerthan the sampling rate of the active mode, or are higher than thesampling rate (which may be zero) of the sleep mode.

The power saving mode 1 may have the highest power consumption and thehighest detection accuracy because it has the highest sampling rate. Thepower saving mode 2 has the second highest power consumption and thesecond highest detection accuracy because it has the second highestsampling rate. The power saving mode 3 has the lowest power consumptionand the lowest detection accuracy because it has the lowest samplingrate.

In addition, in the illustrated example, the sampling rate of the powersaving mode 1 corresponds to ½ of that of the active mode, the samplingrate of the power saving mode 2 corresponds to ½ of that of the powersaving mode 1, and the sampling rate of the power saving mode 3corresponds to ½ of that of the power saving mode 2. However, thesampling rates of the respective sub-modes may be arbitrarily set byconsidering the conditions and the like which will be described later,regardless of the above relation. Furthermore, two sub-modes, other thanthree sub-modes, may be set, or a large number of sub-modes exceedingthree may also be set.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a detection mode set inthe touch sensor 113 in the second embodiment of the present disclosure.For example, when a phase has been performed in which a user grips thehousing 101 of the remote controller 100 placed on a table and the like(P1), makes contact with the touch panel after a moment (P2), releasesthe contact (P3), makes contact with the touch panel again after amoment (P4), releases the contact (P5), and places the housing on thetable after a brief interval (P6), the detection mode set in the touchsensor 113 is changed as follows.

First, before the housing 101 of the remote controller 100 is gripped inP1, the sleep mode has been set in the touch sensor 113. In this state,the touch sensor 113 does not actually detect a user's contact. If thehousing 101 is gripped in P1, the switching signal generation unit 145switches the mode of the touch sensor 113 from the sleep mode to thepower saving mode, and sets the power saving mode 1 in the touch sensor113. As described above, the power saving mode 1 has the highest powerconsumption and the highest detection accuracy because it has thehighest sampling rate among the sub-modes of the power saving mode.

Next, after the housing 101 is gripped in P1, the mode of the touchsensor 113 is switched to the power saving mode, and the power savingmode 1 is set, if a time elapses, the switching signal generation unit145 switches the mode of the touch sensor 113 from the power saving mode1 to the power saving mode 2. As described above, the power saving mode2 has low power consumption as compared with the power saving mode 1 andlow detection accuracy as compared with the power saving mode 1 becauseit has a low sampling rate as compared with the power saving mode 1.

Next, after the power saving mode 2 is set in the touch sensor 113, if atime elapses, the switching signal generation unit 145 switches the modeof the touch sensor 113 from the power saving mode 2 to the power savingmode 3. As described above, the power saving mode 3 has the lowest powerconsumption and the lowest detection accuracy because it has the lowestsampling rate among the sub-modes of the power saving mode.

Here, if a contact to the touch panel 110 is detected by the touchsensor 113 in P2, the switching signal generation unit 145 switches themode of the touch sensor 113 from the power saving mode 3 to the activemode. In addition, even when the contact to the touch panel 110 has beendetected in the state where the power saving mode 1 or the power savingmode 2 has been set in the touch sensor 113, the switching signalgeneration unit 145 switches the mode of the touch sensor 113 at thattime to the active mode. Even after the contact to the touch panel 110has been released in P3, the switching signal generation unit 145maintains the touch sensor 113 in the active mode for a time similarlyto the first embodiment.

Next, after the contact to the touch panel 110 has been released in P3,if a time elapses, the switching signal generation unit 145 switches themode of the touch sensor 113 from the active mode to the power savingmode. Similarly to the case where the mode of the touch sensor 113 hasbeen switched to the power saving mode in P1, the switching signalgeneration unit 145 sets the power saving mode 1 in the touch sensor113.

Then, similarly to the interval between P1 and P2, the switching signalgeneration unit 145 sequentially sets modes with low power consumptionand low detection accuracy in the touch sensor 113 according to thepassage of time. In other words, the switching signal generation unit145 sets the power saving mode 2 in the touch sensor 113 after the powersaving mode 1, and sets the power saving mode 3 in the touch sensor 113after the power saving mode 2.

Here, if a contact to the touch panel 110 is detected by the touchsensor 113 in P4, the switching signal generation unit 145 switches themode of the touch sensor 113 from the power saving mode 3 to the activemode, similarly to P2. Even after the contact to the touch panel 110 hasbeen released in P5, the switching signal generation unit 145 maintainsthe touch sensor 113 in the active mode for a time.

Next, after the contact to the touch panel 110 has been released in P5,if a time elapses, the switching signal generation unit 145 switches themode of the touch sensor 113 from the active mode to the power savingmode, and sets the power saving mode 1 in the touch sensor 113.

Here, if the housing 101 is set down in P6, the switching signalgeneration unit 145 switches the mode of the touch sensor 113 from thepower saving mode 1 to the sleep mode, similarly to the firstembodiment. As illustrated in the drawing, the switching signalgeneration unit 145 may immediately switch the mode of the touch sensor113 from the mode at that time to the sleep mode, may also switch themode of the touch sensor 113 to a mode with low power consumption andlow detection accuracy, such as the power saving mode 2 or the powersaving mode 3, or may further switch the mode of the touch sensor 113 tothe sleep mode after a time elapses.

In the example as described above, when the switching signal generationunit 145 switches the mode of the touch sensor 113 from the sleep modeor the active mode to the power saving mode, the switching signalgeneration unit 145 first sets the power saving mode 1, and sequentiallysets the power saving mode 2 and the power saving mode 3 in the touchsensor 113 according to the passage of time.

In the above example, at the time point P1 at which the housing 101 isgripped and thus the mode of the touch sensor 113 is switched from thesleep mode to the power saving mode, it is highly probable that contactoperation for the touch panel 110 starts immediately after that. Thus,by setting the power saving mode 1 with the highest detection accuracyamong the sub-modes of the power saving mode, it is possible to react tothe start of the contact operation in a relatively short time.

Meanwhile, after P1, when the contact operation does not start, it isestimated that a user has no intention to immediately start the contactoperation. Thus, by sequentially setting the power saving mode 2 and thepower saving mode with low power consumption, power consumption issuppressed. Meanwhile, when the user has started the contact operation,reaction is delayed as compared with the case where the power savingmode 1 has been set. The sampling rates of the power saving mode 2 andthe power saving mode 3, for example, may be determined in considerationof the degree by which the delay is allowed.

Furthermore, at the time point at which the contact to the touch panel110 has been released in P3, a time has elapsed, and the mode of thetouch sensor 113 has been switched from the active mode to the powersaving mode, it is highly probable that the user will resume the contactoperation. Thus, by setting the power saving mode 1, it is possible toreact to the resumption of the contact operation in a relatively shorttime.

Meanwhile, when the contact operation has not been resumed after that,it is estimated that the user has no intention to immediately resume thecontact operation. Thus, similarly to the interval between P1 and P2, bysequentially setting the power saving mode 2 and the power saving mode 3with low power consumption, power consumption is suppressed.

So far, the second embodiment of the present disclosure has beendescribed. In the second embodiment, the plurality of sub-modes are setin the power saving mode and may be changed according to the passage oftime in the state where the power saving mode has been set in the touchsensor 113, resulting in the reduction of power consumption.

3. Third Embodiment

Next, the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.In the third embodiment, instead of the acceleration sensor 130, anelectric field sensor 230 may be used as a sensor for acquiring the gripstate of the housing 101. In addition, except for that, since anapparatus configuration and a process flow may be equal to those of thefirst or second embodiment, detailed description thereof will beomitted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a remote controller 200 which is anelectronic device according to the third embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The remote controller 200 according to the presentembodiment has approximately the same configuration as that of theremote controller 100 according to the first embodiment, except thatelectric field sensors 230 a and 230 b are used.

The electric field sensors 230 a and 230 b are a pair of electric fieldsensors provided at an inner side of the housing 101. In the electricfield sensors 230 a and 230 b, one serves as a transmission electrode,the other one serves as a reception electrode, and an electric field isgenerated there between. For example, if a user's hands approach thehousing 101 in order to grip the housing 101, the electric field ischanged. The electric field sensors 230 a and 230 b detect whether theuser's hands and the like have approached the housing 101 according to achange in the electric field. In addition, the electric field sensor 230is also a sensor having lower power consumption than the touch sensor113.

The state information acquisition unit 141 of the processor 140 acquiresan approach state of a user to the housing 101 from a detection resultof the electric field sensor 230. In the present embodiment, the stateinformation acquisition unit 141 may acquire the approach state of theuser to the housing 101, and uses the approach state when the switchingsignal generation unit 145 switches the detection mode of the touchsensor 113, similarly to the grip state of the housing 101 in theabove-mentioned embodiments.

So far, the third embodiment of the present disclosure has beendescribed. In the third embodiment, since the electric field sensor 230may be used as a sensor for acquiring the state of the housing 101, evenwhen it is assumed that a user operates the housing 101 in the statewhere the housing 101 has been placed on a table, it is possible toreduce power consumption by switching the detection mode of the touchsensor 113.

4. Fourth Embodiment

Next, the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.In the fourth embodiment, modes in which the number of detection pointsof a contact is different may be set as the detection mode of the touchsensor 113. In addition, since an apparatus configuration and a processflow may be the same as those of the first to third embodiments,detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) illustrate diagrams for explaining a detectionmode set in the touch sensor 113 according to the fourth embodiment ofthe present disclosure. FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) schematicallyillustrate a touch sensor including an electrode group 115 a in thelongitudinal direction and an electrode group 115 b in the transversaldirection. However, this is not for specifying the type of the touchsensor 113. In other words, even when the touch sensor 113 has a certaintype, the number of detection points is changed using a methodcorresponding to the type of the touch sensor 113, resulting in theapplication of the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, a sleep mode, a power saving mode, and an active mode,which are first to third detection modes of the touch sensor 113 in thepresent embodiment, will be described.

The first detection mode is a sleep mode illustrated in (a) and a numberof detection points of the touch sensor 113 is set to a minimum value.In the illustrated example, all the electrode groups 115 a and 115 b areset to OFF and the number of detection points is zero. In this mode, thepower consumption of the touch sensor 113 is the lowest among the abovethree modes. In addition, the power consumption of the accelerationsensor 130 is lower than the power consumption of the touch sensor 113driven in the sleep mode. Meanwhile, the detection accuracy of the touchsensor 113 is low and a user's contact is not actually detected. Thesleep mode may also be an OFF mode in which no power is supplied to thetouch sensor, or a standby mode in which power is slightly supplied forquick transition to other modes, and the like.

The second detection mode may be a power saving mode illustrated in (b)and the number of detection points of the touch sensor 113 is set to avalue smaller than a normal value. For example, electrodes of each ofthe electrode groups 115 a and 115 b are set such that ON and OFF arerepeated at a rate. In the illustrated example, the electrodes of eachof the electrode groups 115 a and 115 b are turned ON every oneelectrode. However, for example, the electrodes may also be turned ON atother rates such as every two electrodes or every three electrodes. Inthis mode, the power consumption of the touch sensor 113 is relativelylow. Meanwhile, a case in which the detection accuracy of the touchsensor 113 is relatively low and a user's contact itself is detected,but the contact is not correctly detected according to the type ofcontact operation may occur. The detection accuracy of a detectioncondition of the power saving mode is higher than that of a detectioncondition of the sleep mode. This is an example in which, in the seconddetection mode, the second detection unit is driven in the seconddetection condition with a weak restriction as compared with the firstdetection condition of the first detection mode.

The third detection mode is an active mode illustrated in (c) and thenumber of detection points of the touch sensor 113 is set to the normalvalue. In the illustrated example, all the electrode groups 115 a and115 b are set to ON. In this mode, since the power consumption of thetouch sensor 113 is relatively high, long time continuity of this modereduces the battery lifespan. Meanwhile, since the detection accuracy ofthe touch sensor 113 is high, it is possible to correctly detect varioustypes of contact operations. The detection accuracy of the detectioncondition of the active mode is higher than that of the detectioncondition of the power saving mode. This is an example in which, in thethird detection mode, the second detection unit is driven in the thirddetection condition with a weak restriction as compared with the seconddetection condition of the second detection mode. As described above, inthe present embodiment, the “detection condition with a weakerrestriction” may correspond to a “detection condition with higheraccuracy”.

Here, the value of the number of detection points for determining thedetection accuracy in the power saving mode, which is the seconddetection mode, may also be changed according to the type of anapplication executed in an external device which receives information ona contact to the touch panel 110 from the remote controller 100. Theapplication may use the contact information as an operation input.

For example, when an application using an operation such as a tapoperation or a pointing operation with relatively short contact trace onthe touch panel 110 is executed in an external device, the switchingsignal generation unit 145 may set a relatively large number ofdetection points, at which such an operation is detectable, as thenumber of detection points of the power saving mode. Furthermore, forexample, when an application using an operation such as a flickoperation or a drag operation with a relatively long contact trace onthe touch panel 110 is executed in the external device, the switchingsignal generation unit 145 may set a relatively small number ofdetection points as the number of detection points of the power savingmode.

In addition, information on the application executed in the externaldevice, for example, can be acquired by allowing the communication unit160 to perform bi-directional communication including transmission tothe external device and reception from the external device, andreceiving information on an application, which is transmitted from theexternal device, using the communication unit 160.

Furthermore, similarly to the second embodiment, the power saving modemay have a plurality of sub-modes with a different number of detectionpoints, and the sub-mode may also be sequentially switched to a modewith a small number of detection points according to the passage oftime.

Modification of Arrangement of Detection Points

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification related to an arrangement of detectionpoints of the touch sensor 113 according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The present modification, for example, may beapplied to a case where icons 117 for a contact operation are arrangedonly at a part of a screen of the display 111.

In the present modification, the touch sensor 113 is divided into twoareas 113 a and 113 b, and detection points are arranged only in thearea 113 b in the power saving mode. The detection points of the area113 b may be arranged with the same density as that of the active modeas illustrated in the drawing, or may also be arranged with a densitylower than that of the active mode.

Here, the area 113 b where the detection points are arranged correspondsto positions at which the icons 117 are displayed on the display 111.The icons 117 are for the contact operation, and at least one icon 117is displayed on the display 111.

In addition, division areas of the touch sensor 113 in the presentmodification are not limited to the areas 113 a and 113 b. For example,the touch sensor 113 may be divided into finer areas, and detectionpoints may also be arranged only in the vicinity of the icons 117.

In the present modification, when the touch sensor 113 is driven in thepower saving mode, the detection points are arranged in a wider range ascompared with the sleep mode. Furthermore, when the touch sensor 113 isdriven in the active mode, the detection points are arranged in a widerrange as compared with the power saving mode. As described above, in thepresent modification, the “detection condition with a weakerrestriction” may correspond to a “wider detection range.”

So far, the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure has beendescribed. In the fourth embodiment, a mode with a reduced number ofdetection points of a contact operation is set as the power saving modeof the touch sensor 113, so that it is possible to reduce powerconsumption while waiting for a user's contact operation, differentlyfrom the above-mentioned embodiments. If a mode with a sampling rateincreased by reducing the number of detection points of a contactoperation is set as the power saving mode of the touch sensor 113 withthe combination of the fourth embodiment and the above-describedembodiments, it is possible to further reduce power consumption.

5. Other Types of Modification

Various types of modifications for the above-mentioned embodiments willbe described below.

For Type of Electronic Device

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the remote controller has beendescribed as an example of the electronic device. However, theelectronic device according to the embodiment of the present disclosureis not limited to the remote controller. For example, the electronicdevice may include all suitable types of electronic devices that performoperation input in the state where a user has gripped or approached theelectronic devices, such as tablet PCs (Personal Computers), smartphones, cellular phones, or portable game machines. The electronicdevice may also include other devices that incorporate one or more ofthe features described herein.

In addition, even when the electronic device is driven by a rechargeablebattery instead of a dry cell, for example, the suppression of powerconsumption according to the embodiment of the present disclosure isavailable for extending a charging interval. Furthermore, even when theelectronic device is driven by a fixed power source, the suppression ofpower consumption is available in terms of energy saving.

Here, when the electronic device is a device which executes anapplication by itself such as a tablet PC or a smart phone, the value ofthe sampling rate or the number of detection points in a power savingmode may be changed according to the type of the application executed bythe electronic device. The application may include an application whichuses contact information as an operation input.

For Power Saving Mode

According to the above-mentioned embodiments, in the power saving mode,the power consumption of the touch sensor is suppressed by changing thesampling rate or the number of detection points. However, the powerconsumption of the touch sensor may also be suppressed using othermethods. For example, in the power saving mode, the touch sensor detectsthe presence or absence of a contact. However, the touch sensor may alsobe set not to perform an arithmetic process for calculating the positionof the contact. In this case, power consumption corresponding to thearithmetic process is reduced. Such a power saving mode may be called amode with high detection accuracy as compared with the sleep mode, andlow detection accuracy as compared with the active mode.

For Grip of Housing

When a sensor for detecting the grip state of the housing is anacceleration sensor, it is possible to detect the posture of the housingfrom an acceleration value, in addition to whether the housing has beengripped. Using this, a switching condition from the sleep mode to thepower saving mode may be set as a condition that the housing is grippedwith a range of posture. The range of posture, for example, may includea range of the posture of the housing in which the touch panel providedin the housing is changed in the upward direction to the transversaldirection. In this way, for example, when a user watches contentdisplayed on an external device without performing operation input whilegripping the remote controller, it is possible to reduce powerconsumption by allowing the touch sensor to be in the sleep mode.

For Use of Clickable Touch Panel

The electronic device according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure may also have a clickable touch panel. In this case, a clickof the touch panel may also be used as a switching trigger of adetection mode of the touch sensor. For example, when the power savingmode has been set in the touch sensor and a user starts a contactoperation through a pointing operation causing a click of the touchpanel, if the mode of the touch sensor is switched from the power savingmode to the active mode through the click of the touch panel, it ispossible to further increase the sampling rate of the power saving modeand to further reduce power consumption.

6. Supplement

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

1) A device comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processing circuit executing the instructions to:

detect a first user action;

establish a first user action state based on the detected first useraction;

designate a first mode based on the first user action state;

determine if a second user action, consistent with a first detectioncondition associated with the first mode, has taken place;

when the second user action has taken place, establish a second useraction state based on the second user action; and

designate a second mode based on the second user action state, thesecond mode consuming more power than the first mode.

(2) The device of (1), the first mode and the second mode are powersaving modes.

(3) The device of (1) or (2), further comprising a first sensorconfigured to detect the first user action and a second sensorconfigured to detect the second user action, wherein the first sensorand the second sensor are different.

(4) The device of (2), wherein the second mode saves power consumed bythe second sensor.

(5) The device of any one of (1) to (4), further comprising instructionsto:

when the second user action has not taken place, designate a third powersaving mode, the third power saving mode consuming less power than thefirst mode.

(6) The device of any one of (1) to (5), wherein the first detectioncondition comprises the occurrence of the second user action within aspecified time period following designation of the first mode.

(7) The device of any one of (1) to (7), wherein the second user actionstate is an active state.

(8) The device of any one of (1) to (7), wherein the processing circuitexecutes the instructions to:

when the second mode is designated:

determine if a third user action, consistent with a second detectioncondition associated with the second mode, has taken place;

when the third user action condition has taken place, establish a thirduser action state based on the third user action; and

when the third user action has not taken place, designate a third mode,the third mode consuming less power than the second mode.

(9) The device of (8), wherein the second detection condition comprisesthe occurrence of the third user action within a specified time periodfollowing designating the second mode.

(10) The device of (8) or (9), wherein:

the first detection condition comprises a first detection frequency;

the second detection condition comprises a second detection frequency;and

the first detection frequency is greater than the second detectionfrequency.

(11) The device according to (6), wherein the processing circuitexecutes the instructions to:

transmit, to an external device, information indicative of at least oneof the first detection condition or the second detection condition;

receive information, from the external device, indicative of a type ofapplication running on the external device; and

set, based on the received information, the at least one of the firstdetection condition or the second detection condition.

(12) The device according to (6) or (11), wherein the processing circuitexecutes the instructions to establish at least one of the firstdetection condition or the second detection condition, based on a typeof application executed in the device and at least one of the first useraction or the second user action.

(13) The device according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein:

the second mode comprises:

a first sub-mode having a first sub-mode level of power consumption anda first sub-mode detection condition;

a second sub-mode having a second sub-mode level of power consumptionand a second sub-mode detection condition, the second sub-mode level ofpower consumption being less than the first sub-mode level of powerconsumption; and

the processing circuit executes the instructions to, when the secondmode is designated:

determine if a third user action, consistent with a second detectioncondition associated with the second mode, has taken place;

when the third user action has not taken place:

designate the first sub-mode;

determine if a fourth user action, consistent with a third detectioncondition associated with the second mode, has taken place; and

when the fourth user action has not taken place, designate the secondsub-mode.

(14) The device according to (13), wherein:

the second detection condition comprises an occurrence of the third useraction within a first specified time period following designating thesecond mode; and

the third detection condition comprises an occurrence of the fourth useraction within a second specified time period following designating thefirst sub-mode.

(15) The device according to any one of (1) to (14):

further comprising a communication unit configured to transmit, to anexternal device, information relating to the first operation;

wherein the processing circuit executes the instructions to activate thecommunication unit when the first user action is detected.

(16) The device according to (15), wherein the processing circuitexecutes the instructions to suspend the communication unit when thefirst user action is not detected.

(17) The device according to any one of (8) to (10), wherein:

the first user action is a grip of a housing of the device;

the second user action is a contact with a portion of the device otherthan the housing; and

the third user action is a contact with the portion of the device otherthan the housing.

(18) The device according to (17), wherein:

the first detection condition comprises an occurrence of the second useraction within a first specified time period following designating thefirst mode; and

the second detection condition comprises an occurrence of the third useraction within a second specified time period following designating thesecond mode, the second time period being shorter than the first timeperiod.

(19) The device according to (17) or (18), wherein:

the first detection condition comprises detecting the second user actionvia a first number of detection points arranged on the portion of thedevice other than the housing;

the second detection condition comprises detecting the third user actionvia a second number of the detection points arranged on the portion ofthe device other than the housing, the second number of detection pointsbeing larger than the first number of detection points.

(20) The device according to any one of (1) to (19), wherein detectingthe first user action further comprises detecting a user grip of ahousing within a posture range.

(21) The device according to any one of (1) to (20), further comprising:

a first user action sensor configured to detect the first user action;

a touch sensor associated with a touch panel and configured to detectthe second user action; and

a communication unit configured to transmit, to an external device,information associated with at least one of the first user action or thesecond user action.

(22) The device according to any one of (1) to (21), wherein the firstuser action sensor comprises at least one of an acceleration sensor oran electric field sensor.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   100, 200 remote controller-   101 housing-   110 touch panel-   111 display-   113 touch sensor-   130 acceleration sensor-   140 processor-   141 state information acquisition unit-   143 operation information acquisition unit-   145 switching signal generation unit-   150 memory-   160 communication unit-   230 electric field sensor

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: processing circuitryconfigured to: detect a first user action according to a first signalreceived from a first sensor while operating in a first mode, the firstuser action being gripping and lifting up of the device; change anoperation mode from the first mode to a second mode based on the firstuser action; detect a second user action according to a second signalreceived from a second sensor while operating the second mode, thesecond sensor being a capacitance-type touch sensor, the second useraction being a touch operation of a display of the device and the seconduser action being consistent with a first detection condition associatedwith the second mode; perform an operation based on the second useraction; and change the operation mode from the second mode to a thirdmode after a predetermined period of time elapses without detection ofthe second user action, wherein the second mode consumes more power thanthe first mode, and the third mode is a power saving mode configured tosave power consumed by the second sensor, the third mode consuming morepower than the first mode.
 2. The device according to claim 1, whereinthe second mode is an active mode.
 3. The device according to claim 1,wherein the processing circuitry is configured to change the operationmode from the second mode to the first mode after a predetermined periodof time elapses without detection of the second user action.
 4. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the secondsensor are different sensors.
 5. The device according to claim 1,wherein the first sensor is an acceleration sensor.
 6. The deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the acceleration sensor is apiezoelectric-type sensor or a piezo resistance-type sensor.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, further comprising the first sensor and thesecond sensor.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the secondmode consumes more power than the third mode.
 9. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing computer executable instructions which,when executed by processing circuitry of a device, cause the device to:receive a first signal from a first sensor to detect a first user actionwhile operating in a first mode, the first user action being grippingand lifting up of the device; change an operation mode from the firstmode to a second mode based on the first user action; determine, when asecond signal is received from a second sensor and the operation mode isthe second mode, that a second user action is performed, the secondsensor being a capacitance-type sensor, the second user action being atouch operation of a display of the device and the second user actionbeing consistent with a first detection condition associated with thesecond mode; perform an operation based on the second user action; andchange the operation mode from the second mode to a third mode after apredetermined period of time elapses without detection of the seconduser action, wherein the second mode consumes more power than the firstmode, and the third mode is a power saving mode configured to save powerconsumed by the second sensor, the third mode consuming more power thanthe first mode.
 10. The non-transitory computer readable mediumaccording to claim 9, wherein the device is further caused to change theoperation mode from the second mode to the first mode after apredetermined period of time elapses without detection of second useraction.
 11. The non-transitory computer readable medium according toclaim 9, wherein the first sensor is an acceleration sensor.
 12. Amethod, comprising: receiving a first signal from a first sensor, of adevice, to detect a first user action while operating in a first mode,the first user action being gripping and lifting up of the device;changing, by processing circuitry of the device, an operation mode fromthe first mode to a second mode based on the first user action state;determining, when a second signal is received from a second sensor andthe operation mode is the second mode, that a second user action isperformed, the second sensor being a capacitance-type sensor, the seconduser action being a touch operation of a display of the device and thesecond user action being consistent with a first detection conditionassociated with the second mode; performing, by the processingcircuitry, an operation based on the second user action; and changingthe operation mode from the second mode to a third mode after apredetermined period of time elapses without detection of the seconduser action, wherein the second mode consumes more power than the firstmode, and the third mode is a power saving mode configured to save powerconsumed by the second sensor, the third mode consuming more power thanthe first mode.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the firstsensor is an acceleration sensor.
 14. The method according to claim 13,wherein the acceleration sensor is a piezoelectric-type sensor or apiezo resistance-type sensor.
 15. The method according to claim 12,further comprising changing the operation mode from the second mode tothe first mode after a predetermined period of time elapses withoutdetection of the second user action.
 16. The method according to claim12, wherein the second mode is an active mode.
 17. The method accordingto claim 12, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor aredifferent sensors.